AN ORANGE tsunami swept across Southport as the GWS Giants Academy secured the Pool B AFL Under 16 Championships title after defeating the Gold Coast Suns Academy by 15 points.

There was a big, big sound as the Giants kicked three goals into the breeze during the third term to maintain an important lead at Fankhauser Reserve before a tense final quarter which went down to the wire.

In a battle of the two undefeated sides, it was the orange team that tasted victory, winning with 22 scoring shots to 12.

SUNS ACADEMY 4.0 | 5.0 | 8.1 | 9.3 (57)
GIANTS ACADEMY 2.1 | 6.5 | 9.7 | 10.12 (72)

GOALS:
Suns Academy: J. Moir 4, H. Cloke, K. Hawker, L. Robinson L. Thompson, O. Clark
Giants Academy: S. Douglas 2, H. Crockett 2, A. Maher, N. Golds, H. Gardiner, B. Charlton, M. Davies, G. Morton

RMC BEST:
Suns Academy: P. Fitzgibbon, H. Cloke, J. Moir, H. Weatherley, F. Vincent
Giants Academy: J. Rice, A. Maher, D. Borghouts, H. McDonald, H. Gardiner

MVPs:
Suns Academy: Hunter Weatherley
Giants Academy: Alex Maher

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SUNS ACADEMY:

#2 Kai Hawker
Forward | 170cm | 16/11/2011

Stats: 10 disposals, 4 marks, 1 goal

The busy Hawker had his moments at different points through the match, showcasing some slick evasive skills and working up the ground as well. He kicked an important long-range goal after marking at half-forward and launching deep only for the breeze to carry over the players there and bounce home. Generally was effective with ball in hand, and contributed well to the Suns’ attacking forays.

#4 Jacob Moir
Forward | 174cm | 29/04/2010

Stats: 10 disposals, 3 marks, 4 goals

Moir lit up the game in the opening term showing off his elite forward craft with three goals in the opening term. He had the equal most touches on his team for the quarter with five disposals, and while it was a little tougher given the conditions after that, Moir did kick one against the tide in the fourth term after taking advantage from a free kick. Has great smarts and is clean with ball in hand.

#10 Paddy Fitzgibbon
Midfielder | 181cm | 24/04/2010

Stats: 20 disposals, 5 marks, 6 tackles, 7 inside 50s

Rock solid all game and arguably the Suns’ best in the crunch clash. From start to finish he showed his work in close and extracting it out, while also able to spread to the outside and keep the momentum flowing. His extra strength enabled him to dispose of the ball and clear the danger even when tackled, and while at times he just threw it on the boot, the conditions suited that style. Strong overhead for his size and worked both ways.

#14 Hunter Weatherley
Defender | 179cm | 16/09/2010

Stats: 13 disposals, 2 marks, 6 rebound 50s

Clean, quick and effective out of the back half, Weatherley won his side’s MVP for the carnival. While not racking up stacks of the ball, he was calm and composed, and continued to put pressure on the opposition defence with his driving runs and long kicks. He occasionally looked to take the game on as well and was quick to dispose of the ball when confronted and still hit targets with effective and clean release handballs.

#21 Fletcher Vincent
Defender | 187cm | 30/08/2010

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 tackles, 10 rebound 50s

Vincent was the last defender in the Suns’ lineup, taking the kickouts and racking up the ball from this method. He ended up taking double-digit kick-ins with his booming kick into the breeze proving crucial for his side. While that was the main highlight of his game, he did save several goal-scoring chances, touching the ball on the goalline during the third term and then after switching play in the fourth which didn’t work out, he dashed across the back 50 to perform a remarkable diving smother to stop a certain goal.

#23 Harry Cloke
Midfielder/Forward | 185cm | 26/07/2010

Stats: 15 disposals, 7 tackles, 6 clearances, 6 inside 50s

The son of former Magpie Jason cuts a very different cloth to his father in the sense that the next Cloke in line is a strong, contested midfielder. He goes forward and can hit the scoreboard – with one goal to his name and another almost getting there in the final term, but was touched on the line and rushed through. His courage in the air was reminiscent of his dad, flying back into the pack at one point and doing anything for his side. Most of his early touches involved thumping the ball forward with the aid of the breeze, and it helped put serious pressure on the Giants’ defence.

#24 Xavier McWhinney
Defender | 186cm | 12/04/2010

Stats: 8 disposals, 4 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

While McWinney’s stats don’t jump off the page, his traits when you watch him, do. Boasting some explosive speed and serious toughness, the 186cm defender looms as a valuable two-way runner who can provide offensive drive, while also assisting deep in the backline. An early breakaway from the defensive 50 saw him run too quick for the ball as a bounce went astray, but he backed up well to get the handball off. His strength to stand up in tackles when not afforded the space was good, as it was when it was his turn to apply the fierce tackling pressure.

#29 Zahn Bugeja
Tall Defender | 196cm | 08/06/2009

Stats: 15 disposals, 4 marks, 4 rebound 50s

The towering Bugeja was able to find his fair share of the ball out of the back half and provide some aerial assistance when needed. Often utilised as the distributor to just thump the ball long in the conditions, he showed during the second term he could work back and produced a goal-saving spoil on the goalline to rush it through. His kicking consistency could definitely improve, but the blustery conditions did not make it easy for defenders.

#31 Travis Larkins
Ruck | 195cm | 14/05/2009

Stats: 8 disposals, 19 hitouts, 4 clearances

Larkins had a great battle in the ruck, arguably taking the points at the stoppages, and still having an influence around the ground. Often the over-ager had a lot of ‘almost moments’ where he should some athletic excellence, but also some fundamental deficiencies. A raw talent who has that ‘could be anything’ look about him, Larkins has a fair bit of improvement to come, but with his ability to break away from contests, leap high and get involved like a ‘fourth midfielder’, there is plenty to like.

GIANTS ACADEMY:

#6 Darcy Borghouts
Midfielder/Defender | 173cm | 18/03/2010

Stats: 23 disposals, 8 tackles, 6 clearances, 5 inside 50s

Borghouts was a prime mover for the Giants Academy, and alongside Rice and Maher, got to work in first winning the ball from the coalface, and then spreading forward to get the ball into dangerous positions. He started in the middle but would also roll back to help with transitional plays, then dart forward to even have a couple of shots on goal. They didn’t quite hand him a major, but he did assist a teammate with his set shot that fell short. Borghouts was able to lower the eyes inside 50 and when he had time and space, could really hurt the opposition inside 50.

#7 Samuel Lean-Fore
Defender | 180cm | 07/09/2010

Stats: 12 disposals, 3 marks, 3 tackles

The Giants defender is part of a strong setup in the backline and he was able to charge out of defence on a number of occasions. Working up the ground, Lean-Fore was quick to dispose of it, and looked to link up by hand in transition. His one-two work to get the ball out of the back half was valuable, and finished with all bar one of his disposals deemed effective, a big tick considering the high pressure and conditions.

#8 James Rice
Midfielder/Forward | 180cm | 12/01/2010

Stats: 27 disposals, 8 tackles, 6 clearances, 6 inside 50s

A brilliant game from Rice who looks a top-end prospect for the draft class. His clearance work and defensive pressure was terrific, but his class with ball in hand is what elevates him to another level. The amount of times he would be streaming forward and then nail a bullet pass or set up numerous scoring chances to teammates’ advantage was outstanding. One of those players who can collect the ball as a first, second or third possession winner around the coalface, but also be the player who can drift forward and be a threat there too.

#10 Harry McDonald
Midfielder/Defender | 177cm | 25/01/2010

Stats: 20 disposals, 3 tackles, 5 rebound 50s

While there is not much to McDonald’s frame, the busy small went about his business in an industrious way. He racked up nine disposals in the first term and had his 20 by the third quarter. He started on-ball and would then rotate into defence and even took some kickouts, using his long kick as an effective means of counteracting the breeze. While his kicking can still be refined particularly under pressure, his clean and well-weighted handballs were impressive and what really stood out in his game.

#13 Alexander Maher
Midfielder | 177cm | 16/05/2010

Stats: 28 disposals, 5 clearances, 1 goal

Winning the Giants Academy’s MVP for the national carnival, Maher finished off with a bang. He and Rice combined so well through the middle, with the 177cm onballer providing a similar level of class with his disposals. The way he could win it on the inside, spread to the outside then break forward with piercing passes inside 50 really put the Suns Academy defence on the back foot. He moved well through stoppages, parting the seas at one point and stepping between multiple opponents. Maher took risks with his kicks, but has the licence to do so, with his efficiency and hurt factor both enormous.

#14 Noah Golds
Forward | 183cm | 17/03/2010

Stats: 16 disposals, 5 marks, 1 goal

Golds had a lot of ‘almost’ moments on goal, finally converting a major in the last quarter which funnily enough iced the game in the last minute to put his team up by 15 points. Prior to that, Golds had a few chances that went for either behinds or out on the full – finished with 1.2 – but aside from the inaccuracy which the conditions could be blamed for, he was an important target inside 50. Of his five marks, one was contested, but he also worked up the ground to find the ball and get involved in other ways outside the scoreboard.

#15 Sam Douglas
Forward | 184cm | 01/06/2010

Stats: 10 disposals, 1 mark, 2 goals

Like many in the game, Douglas didn’t have a stack of the ball, but when he did, it was noticeable. He set up some scoring opportunities in the first half, then got goalside to soccer home a clever goal against the breeze in the opening term. His checkside major from 20 metres out in the third quarter meant he’d kicked both of his goals into the breeze. Overall, he competed in the air even when not taking marks, and looked balanced going forward.

#16 Silas Torney
Defender | 182cm | 26/06/2010

Stats: 11 disposals, 3 marks, 4 inside 50s

Playing an aggressive role pushing up the ground, Torney intercepted on a number of occasions, and showed off his strength even when tackled. He shrugged some of them, and did so once to kick long and set up a nice goal to Douglas. Generally effective with ball in hand, he kept popping up, and while the numbers don’t necessarily jump off the page, he contributed well with his running in transition.

#20 Hayden Gardiner
Midfielder/Forward | 184cm | 29/01/2010

Stats: 15 disposals, 7 tackles, 4 clearances

Might fly under the radar given the impact of some of the other performances in the game, but Gardiner’s work was important across the ground. He started forward and rotated into the middle, with his defensive pressure a highlight in his game. He laid a massive seven tackles and his technique – pinning the arms – was very good, often locking the ball up to ensure his side could reset. His sole goal came via a mark in the goalsquare late in the opening half, and he seemed to move well and use quick hands to feed it out to teammates when up the ground too.

#34 Hugh Crockett
Tall Forward | 195cm | 31/07/2010

Stats: 9 disposals, 3 marks, 2 goals

Crockett used his size and frame to really take control inside 50, and on a day where the forward 50 entries could be a little unpredictable, he still presented and clunked three marks, including one huge contested one. He kicked his first goal working hard defensively to boot it on the goalline which gave the Giants the lead for the first time 13 minutes into the second term. His huge grab in the third quarter at the top of the goalsquare delivered his other major and even when not winning the ball, the Suns defenders were wary of his presence.